Trolley Hill Park | Seattle P-Patch And More

A Google search for “Seattle P-Patch” reveals nearly 90 different community gardens in and around the Emerald City. Since I’m not a gardener, I was surprised by how many P-Patches there are around here. So, why in the world was I looking up “Seattle P-Patch?” There’s a good reason. My mom and I recently came across one — it’s called Trolley Hill Park.

Trolley Hill Park

Trolley Hill Park is a small park (.87 acres) located on 5th Ave. N. and Blaine St. on Queen Anne. It’s named Trolley Hill Park because 5th Ave. N. was one of the main trolley lines up Queen Anne Hill from 1890 to 1940. On top of the P-Patch, Trolley Hill Park features a picnic area, a natural play area, and a greenway that leads to nearby MacLean Park.

But like I mentioned earlier, the biggest draw at Trolley Hill Park is the organic Seattle P-Patch. My mom and I spotted everything from beautiful flowers to artichokes growing in the well-kept community garden. People have really made themselves at home there too, putting up fun signs and decking out the P-Patch with decorative stones. It also looked like much of the gardening equipment was provided at Trolley Hill Park. I saw hoses and wheelbarrows on site.

Vegetables growing at the Trolley Hill Park P-Patch

RANDOM NOTE: What does P-Patch stand for? Believe it or not, P-Patch is a term specific to Seattle. The P in P-Patch stands for Picardo. It commemorates the Picardo family, who turned part of their farm into the first community garden in Seattle in the 1970s.

So, how does the Trolley Hill Park P-Patch work? First off, the flowers, fruits and vegetables grown at the community garden are property of the gardeners. That means you can’t just walk into the park and start picking strawberries and tomatoes. You can’t just stroll in and start planting seeds either. There’s a process you have to go through. If you’d like to garden at Trolley Hill Park or any other Seattle P-Patch (locations), you can simply click here or call (206) 684-0264. Keep in mind — there are application ($26) and annual fees ($12 per 100 square feet you garden) that apply.

Flowers at Trolley Hill Park

Have you ever visited Trolley Hill Park? Are you a community gardener there (or at another Seattle P-Patch)? We’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Don’t forget to also check out Seattle Bloggers for more fun spots to check out in the Emerald City!